Enhanced purchase verification for self checkout system

ABSTRACT

A method and system for enabling reliable verification of items being purchased using a self checkout system. The self checkout system is equipped with a verification mark dispenser and verification mark detectors that respectively dispenses a mark on an item as the item is being scanned for purchasing and then verifies, by detecting the mark on the item, that the item being bagged (or passed through the tunnel) is the same item that was scanned. When a customer scans an item for purchase, and if purchase transaction is successful, a mark (made of a non-reactive but detectable material or ink) is placed on the exterior packaging of the item. When the item is placed in the tunnel, the detector, sensitive to the activation of the specific marking and located at or in the tunnel, detects the marking on the item. If the activated marking is not detected by the detector, an alert condition is triggered.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/020,979, titled “Enhanced Purchase Verification For SelfCheckout System” filed on Dec. 22, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to self checkout systems and inparticular to security features of self checkout systems. Still moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a method and system forenhancing verification of products purchased with self checkout systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

Two primary goals in the labor intensive retail merchandiser andsupermarket industries are (1) improving customer experience and (2)increasing profit margins by reducing overall (a) product costs and (b)labor costs. While product cost is a factor that is controlled byexternal forces, improving customer experience and reducing labor costsare controlled by the establishment themselves. With this in mind, onerecent, major innovation within these industries has been theintroduction of self-checkout systems. These self check-out systemsreplace and thus reduce the number of cashiers required whilesubstantially reducing and in some cases eliminating the wait time forcustomer check out.

Several different types of self checkout systems have been developed,each requiring little or no direct customer supervision. It has beenfound, however, that some customers, realizing this lack of directsupervision (e.g., by a check-out clerk physically monitoring eachpurchase transaction) may undertake to scam/cheat the checkout system bybagging items not scanned for purchase, etc. Because of the tendency ofsome customers to cheat the system, several security measures have beenintroduced in the self checkout systems to reduce the likelihood thatthe items being bagged by the customer are not the actual items scannedfor purchase.

For example, many checkout systems rely on an estimated weight of theproduct to determine if the product that has been bagged is the productthat was that scanned. Thus, when a can of milk is scanned for purchase,the checkout computer provides an estimated weight of the can of milk,e.g., 6 ounces, and the change in the weight of the sack being utilizedto bag the items is expected to reflect an approximate 6 ounce increase.One drawback of this method is that smaller items are often not able tochange the weight of the sack and the computer assumes the item has notbeen bagged. Also, oftentimes the sack becomes full and the customer hasto remove the sack to begin filling another sack. This removal, however,causes the computer to record an error event and holds up furtherpurchasing of items.

To overcome the above issues with weighing bags of items, some selfcheckout systems are equipped with a tunnel through which the items arepassed (on a conveyor belt) before arriving at the bagging area. Whileon the conveyor belt, the items is weighed and this weight relayed backto the computer, which verifies that the weight is the same as that ofthe item purchased. If the measured weight is within a predeterminedtolerance of the weight listed for the product in the database, the itemis transported to a bagging area and purchasing continues. However, ifthe weight of the product is not within the tolerance, the conveyor beltmay be stopped and/or reversed, and the customer is requested to re-scanthe product (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,343). Despite the apparent securityof this system, customers occasionally outsmart the weight checkingsystem by placing into the bag or on the conveyor belt a six ounce canof caviar valued at many times the price of a six ounce can of milk.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,676,343, 4,792,018, 5,340,970, and 6,497,362 presentsystems for operator-unattended checkout with particular concern fordetection of customer fraud and deterrence thereof. Other proposals forimproving security of these self-checkout systems includes verifying thepurchased item visually or via redundant scanning of the item's UPC asthe item travels inside the tunnel. However, such a verificationmechanism is impractical, and presents a significant implementationchallenge as well as substantial costs (bar code scanners, etc.). Thesolution is impractical because the bar codes will only be readable whenpassed directly over the verification scanner in the tunnel. Odd shapeditems and/or items without a flat bottom/top surface on which the barcode is visible will not be able to be verified with this method. As isknown in the art, scanning a UPC requires the item's UPC be placeddirectly over the scanner. Round items, for example cannot be verifiedwith this method since the item cannot be positioned so that the UPC isin the correct position for scanning. Further, requesting the customerscan an item and then take the time to correctly position the item inthe tunnel leads to longer self-checkout process and discouragescustomers from utilizing the self checkout systems.

What is needed is a cost effective and reliable method for verifying theitems being bagged without the limitations of the above methods andwithout requiring the customer perform any other time intensive tasksthat diminishes the customer's experience with the self-checkoutsystems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a method and system for enabling cost effective andreliable verification of items being purchased using a self checkoutsystem. The self checkout system is equipped with a verification markdispenser and verification mark detectors that respectively dispenses amark on an item as the item is being scanned for purchasing and thenverifies, by detecting the mark on the item, that the item being bagged(or passed through the tunnel) is the same item that was scanned.

When a customer/consumer scans an item for purchase, the purchasetransaction is processed and, if the item is successfully purchased(i.e., transaction confirmed), a mark (which may be made of a detectablematerial or ink or alternatively be a detectable radiation, such asinfrared radiation) is placed on the exterior packaging of the item.When the item is placed in the tunnel, the detector, sensitive to theactivation of the specific marking and located at or in the tunnel,detects the marking on the item. If the activated marking is notdetected by the detector, an alert condition is triggered and an alertsent customer service personnel indicating that an un-purchased productis being placed in the customer's sack.

In one embodiment, the bar code label of the item is designed with apurchase verification strip that responds to some light-based trigger.This strip may be designed to be invisible to the human eye. When thebar code is scanned during item purchasing, the item iscontemporaneously flashed with radiation (preferably an invisible range)that activates the strip/marking on the item being purchased. Theradiation flash is generated by the POS (point-of-sale) scanner or maybe generated by a different light source located adjacent to the POSscanner in the self checkout system. In one embodiment, the marking'sactivation fades over time. If an item is returned and then laterpurchased, the initial activation has faded and a new activation occurswhen the item is scanned for purchase.

The above as well as additional objectives, features, and advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent in the following detailedwritten description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, furtherobjects, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference tothe following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams representing an exemplaryself-checkout system equipped (within a retail environment) with averification mark dispenser and verification mark detectors according toone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary bar code labels with verification markersincluded thereon as utilized within one embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the process of by which the self-checkout andpurchase item verification scheme is completed utilizing theself-checkout system of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ΔN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a method and system for enabling costeffective and reliable verification of items being purchased using aself checkout system. The self checkout system is equipped with averification mark dispenser and verification mark detectors thatrespectively dispenses a mark on an item as the item is being scannedfor purchasing and then verifies, by detecting the mark on the item,that the item being bagged (or passed through the tunnel) is the sameitem that was scanned.

When a customer/consumer scans an item for purchase, the purchasetransaction is processed and, if the item is successfully purchased(i.e., scan confirmed), a mark (made of a non-reactive but detectablematerial or ink) is placed on the exterior packaging of the item. Whenthe item is placed in the tunnel, the detector, sensitive to theactivation of the specific marking and located at or in the tunnel,detects the marking on the item. If the activated marking is notdetected by the detector, an alert condition is triggered and an alertsent customer service personnel indicating that an un-purchased productis being placed in the customer's sack.

With reference now to the figures, and in particular FIG. 1, there isillustrated an exemplary embodiment of a self checkout system (andself-checkout system environment) within which the features of theinvention are implemented. It should be noted that the variouscomponents and specific configuration provided by FIG. 1 is providedsolely for illustration and not meant to imply any limitation on theactual self checkout system within which the features of the inventionare applied/implemented.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram representation of an exemplaryself-checkout system equipped with a verification mark dispenser andverification mark detectors according to one embodiment of theinvention. Self-checkout system 102 comprises counter 104, universalproduct code (UPC) reader (or scanner) 106, and display screen 108 forinteractive customer communication. Self-checkout system 102 furthercomprises payment mechanism 109, which includes credit card reader 110,cash acceptor 112, cash dispenser 114 and a receipt unit 124. Further,self-checkout system comprises an entry conveyor 116, an out-feedconveyor 118, a bagging area 120, and a tunnel 122.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that the self-checkout devicemay include, for example, a computer system which controls the overalloperation of the self-checkout device. Such a computer system mayinclude, for example, a processor, memory (RAM and/or ROM), data storagedevices (CD, DVD, IDE hard drives, floppy drives, etc.), input devices(keyboard, microphone, trackpad, bar-code reader, UPC scanner, magneticcard reader, mouse, RF tag, touch screen and the like), audio system,and the like. The computer system may be in communication with one ormore devices that together form the self-checkout system and/orself-checkout device.

One of skill in the art will also appreciate that the present inventionmay be used with any self-checkout device including a self-checkout lanehaving, for example, conveyor belts, stationary self-checkout systems,and any other self-checkout systems which generally include a registersystem and associated security devices.

The above described and illustrated self checkout system 102 may beutilized with a security system which uses the known weight of each itemto help protect against consumer fraud. A weighing conveyor belt 154 isthus illustrated. Other security methods for preventing consumer fraudin a self checkout system may be used along with those provided by thepresent invention and described below.

Thus, in the larger retail environment, computer device of self checkoutsystem 102 is connected/linked with a central computer system 240 (whichrepresents a BOSS controller and a Point-Of-Sale (POS) Controller).Additionally, the verification mechanisms 158 of self checkout system102 are linked to computer device 262 of customer assistant atmonitoring station 260.

BOSS controller of central computer system 240 manages database 242,which includes information relating to the security aspects of theproducts: volume, weight, dimensions, and the like. POS controllermanages the point of sale functions of the self check out (and othercashier operated) systems, and also manages the pricing database forproduct. Those skilled in the art are familiar with functionality of theBOSS and POS controllers.

Returning to FIG. 1, in addition to the above described components, selfcheckout system 102 further includes one or more verification markdispensers (or activators, described below) 156 and one or moreverification mark detectors 152. As described above, verification markdispensers 156 are located adjacent/proximate to the UPC reader 106.Thus, whenever an item is brought near to the UPC reader 106 and the UPCof the item is scanned, the dispensers 156 dispense an invisible mark onthe item (i.e., the exterior surface or packaging of the item).

In one embodiment, dispensers 156 mark the items with a light residueplaced on the item by beaming/flashing the item with a special infraredor other light source that is detectable within a period of time afterexposure thereto. The radiation applied to the item and emitted by thedispenser 156 may be any known wavelength, e.g., IR, UV, visible, solong as the detector 154 is able to later detect the exposure of theitem to the specific wavelength. For example, if the dispenser 156dispenses an infrared (IR) marking, the detector 154 will be able todetect exposure of an item to IR. It is noted that, depending on themarker material utilized, the wavelength emitted may differ from the oneapplied; However, the illustrative embodiment is described herein asproviding a single, detectable wavelength, to enable easierunderstanding of the key functional features of the invention.

In another embodiment, the dispensers 156 mark the items with a specialinvisible ink that is sprayed on the exterior packaging of the item.Depending on the compound utilized to provide the marking, the markingmay possibly be applied with an ink marker, spray can, tape, etc. In oneembodiment, the product packing material and/or label are utilized as amarking material. Depending on the number and placement of dispensers156, it possible to cover multiple surfaces of the item with the mark,particularly when the mark is one that requires a direct visual (to thedetector 154) for verification. Thus, as with the illustrativeembodiment, the marking may be placed on the package in more than onelocation. While not required with a radiation-type implementation, theflash of radiation may be applied in multiple locations on the item aswell.

With either of the above embodiments, the light and/or ink marking fadesover time to enable return and repurchase of the item. Thus, if an itemis returned and then later purchased, the initial marking has faded anda new marking occurs when the item is scanned for purchase.

Reference to dispenser 156 as an activator covers a specific embodimentwithin which the dispenser activates a special mark on a bar code label.To understand the application of this embodiment, reference is made tothe UPC labels of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 illustrates a table with exemplary barcode label utilized according to one embodiment of the invention. Tworows (A and B) and two columns (C and D) are show within the table ofFIG. 2. Row A of FIG. 2 illustrates bar code label 200A prior topurchase of the item (i.e., before the bar code label is exposed to theUPC reader 106 and dispenser 156). Column C illustrates the bar codelabel under visible light sensor (detector) and column D illustrates barcode label under IR light sensor.

According to the illustrative embodiment, bar code label 200A of an itemincludes barcode (or UPC) 204 and verification strip 202A. Under visiblelight UPC labels 200A and 200B appear to be the same prior to purchaseand post purchase. Also, prior to purchase, UPC label 200A (morespecifically verification strip 202A) is visible under visible lightsensor but invisible under IR sensor. Once the item has been purchased,however, and the UPC label 200B (verification strip 202B) exposed todispenser 156 (and/or UPC reader 106, in an alternate embodimentdescribed below), verification strip 202B is activated and appears as avisible strip under IR sensor.

Verification strip 202A is thus created within IR light-sensitivematerial that is triggered by the radiation generated by dispenser 156.When the bar code is scanned during item purchasing, the item iscontemporaneously flashed with radiation (preferably an invisible range)that activates the strip/marking on the item being purchased. Notably,while described as visible under a visible light sensor, verificationstrip 202A may be designed to be invisible to the human eye.

In one embodiment, the radiation flash is generated by the POS scanner(enabled with two different radiation emitters), so that a separatedispenser is not required to activate verification strip 202A. Also, inone embodiment, the visibility of verification strip 202B post purchaseunder the IR sensor fades over time. Thus, if the item is returned andthen later purchased, the initial activation has faded and a newactivation of verification strip 202A occurs when the item is scannedfor purchase.

Retuning now to FIG. 1, several different placements of detectors 150,152 are illustrated, namely within or proximate to tunnel 122. Thenumber and location of detectors 150, 152 depend on the dispensingmechanism and/or type of mark being utilized. The more dispensersutilized, the less the number of detectors required since more of theitems surface area is marked, making the mark easier to detect. When thedispenser 156 generates an IR marking, a single IR detector may beutilized to determine when the item has been exposed to IR light. The IRdetector is selected based on a consideration of the emitted radiation,which, as previously mentioned, may differ from the radiation applied.The IR detector may be placed at any location within the tunnel 122.This single detector configuration also applies for other uniqueradiation types/marks that may be detected without a direct visual lineto the detector.

When the detector activates a verification strip 202B on a UPC label,the single detector is replaced with multiple detectors placed so as tocover as much of the external surface area of the item as possible toobtain a visual of the verification strip 202B. Similarly, multipledetectors 150, 152 placed at different locations may be required for aspecial ink mark placed on the item.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example flowchart of the process by which an itemis purchased and then verified using a self-service checkout systemdesigned similarly to FIG. 1A, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. The process begins at block 302 at which the item isscanned for purchase. A check is made at block 304 whether the barcodewas accepted and the purchase approved by the background computer.Assuming that the bar code is correctly scanned and the purchasetransaction approved, the verification marking/activation process isinitiated as shown block 306. This process applies the mark to the itemand/or the verification strip on the bar code label is activated. Then,at block 308 the purchased item is placed in the tunnel, where the itemis made to pass various mark detectors/sensors. The detectors checks theitem for the particular mark or activated verification strip at block310, and a determination made at block 312 whether the mark was found onthe item.

If the verification mark is detected, the item is cleared for baggingand the checkout transactions allowed to proceed, as shown that block314. Notably, other verification methods may also be applied to theitems, including verifying the weight of the item, etc. Once the item isverified as being the one purchased, then, the process ends at block316. Returning to decision block 312, if the verification mark is notdetected on the item as it passes through the tunnel, the verificationrecords a problem, and an alert signal is generated and transmitted tothe customer representative, as depicted at block 318.

Figure inserts A and B provide two special case handling of the abovedescribed process. In case A 322, when the item is not verified, thecheckout transaction is halted and the customer is alerted that the itemwas not properly scanned. An audible or visible output may be providedto the customer, informing the customer that the product placed on theconveyor belt was not “properly” scanned. This gives the customer anopportunity to correct the error. Also, the item may be set aside viasome secondary conveyance system.

For case B 324, the item is marked with a second marking within thetunnel. This may require a second dispenser be placed within the tunnel.This second mark triggers an alert at the customer service point. In oneembodiment, the second mark is a visible mark that makes theun-purchased/un-verified item easy to identify within the sack of items.The second dispenser may, however, be replaced with a more advancedsystem whereby the presence of an un-verified items triggers an alarm atthe customer service desk and captures and transmits a picture or otheridentifying mark of the item.

Several benefits are provided by the application of the features of theinvention. Key among these are that the verification steps (performed bythe detector does not require any interpretation or focused viewing asis required by the proposed barcode verification methods. That is, themarking only needs to be exposed to the detector for verification. Also,the active marking may be simple to detect with established technology.The marking utilized is suitable for a wide variety of products and isless prone to failure since it cannot be manipulated by the customer.Since the marking is invisible, the customer does not need to be awareof the new security precaution, making it easier to outthink thosecustomers who may wish to cheat the system by substituting purchasedproducts with different bagged products.

Finally, the verification features of the invention may be easily mergedwith or into existing verification methods (i.e., it may be added on toexisting self checkout systems with little effort). Thus, the other lesssophisticated verification methods (e.g., checking the weight of items)may be utilized in conjunction with the method of the present invention.

As a final matter, it is important that while an illustrative embodimentof the present invention has been, and will continue to be, described inthe context of a fully functional computer system with installedmanagement software, those skilled in the art will appreciate that thesoftware aspects of an illustrative embodiment of the present inventionare capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety offorms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the present inventionapplies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearingmedia used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of signalbearing media include recordable type media such as floppy disks, harddisk drives, CD ROMs, and transmission type media such as digital andanalogue communication links.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A self checkout system comprising: a point of sale (POS) scanner forreading a UPC of an item being purchased by a customer; a dispenser formarking the item with a special mark; and verification mechanism forusing said special mark to determine when an item being taken by thecustomer is not the item that was purchased by the customer.
 2. Theself-checkout system of claim 1, further comprising alert notificationlogic that signals when an item being taken by the customer has not beenpurchased.
 3. The self-checkout system of claim 2, wherein said signalincludes one or more of: alerting a customer assistance personnel thatthe item has not been purchased; alerting the customer that the item hasnot been purchased; stopping the purchase transaction from completinguntil the item is verifiably removed; and requesting the customercontact customer assistance personnel to resolve a problem.
 4. Theself-checkout system of claim 2, further comprising: a second dispenser,located at a point of verification for the first special mark, thatemits a second special mark that is detectable by customer assistancepersonnel; and said alert notification logic comprises logic for placinga visibly detectable second mark on the item that alerts the customerassistance personnel of the presence of the item that was not verifiedwhen the customer passes a pre-established check point monitored by thecustomer assistance personnel.
 5. The self-checkout system of claim 1,further comprising logic for enabling said dispenser to dispense saidspecial mark contemporaneously with a scanning and acknowledgement ofthe item's purchase by the POS.
 6. The self checkout system of claim 1,further comprising: a tunnel through which all items must passed duringa purchase transaction; and wherein said verification mechanism isdisposed within said tunnel and detects said mark on purchased itemswhile said purchased items passes through said tunnel.
 7. Theself-checkout system of claim 1, wherein said verification mechanismfurther comprises at least one sensor capable of detecting the specialmark, wherein when detection of the mark requires a line-of-sightdetection, multiple sensors are provided at different spatial locationsto enable coverage of each angle at which the special mark maybe alignedrelative to the item.
 8. The self-checkout system of claim 1, whereinsaid dispenser dispenses a residue of invisible light radiation on theitem by beaming/flashing radiation on the item, wherein the residue isdetectable by a detector of the verification mechanisms within a periodof time after exposure of the item to the residue.